A 27-year-old expatriate man collapsed and died metres from the finish line during an ironman triathlon race held on Lantau Island yesterday.

Police confirmed a man had died during the race but did not release his full name, only the name Daniel.

The incident took place during the second day of the two-day Hong Kong ITU Triathlon Asian Cup, which was held over the weekend at Hong Kong Disneyland and attracted 1,800 competitors.

The race organisers declined to confirm the name of the dead man. They issued a statement saying only that "first-aid personnel stationed by the finish line immediately attended to the stricken athlete. Ambulance services came very shortly thereafter and evacuated the person to the nearest hospital.

"We are very sad to inform that all efforts at resuscitation were not responsive. The association expresses its deepest and sincerest condolences to the deceased's family and friends, and will use our best endeavours to assist them. At this moment, our prayers and thoughts are with our comrade, the family and friends."

The fatality is the second involving a Hong Kong-based competitor in an ironman event, following the death of senior policeman Andy Naylor during an ironman race held in New York in August. Naylor died at the age of 43 when competing in the city's first ironman triathlon.

Police said they had received a report at 12.24pm that a man had collapsed on Sea Point Road, outside Disneyland's Hollywood Hotel, near the finishing line of the race.

The victim was given first aid by paramedics, and was then taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, where he was certified dead at 12.35pm, police said. Friends - some believed to have also taken part in the race - went to the hospital.

The race organiser's website said the event started at 8am at Disneyland Resort. The victim collapsed at around noon near the finishing line, police said.

He was competing in the Olympic distance category, which involved a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40 kilometre bike ride and 10 kilometre run.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Athlete,27, dies close to triathlon finish line